National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Image Source: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada 
Designed to honour children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families and communities, the artwork features orange to reinforce the message that Every Child Matters. A feather, narwhal, and flower represent the distinct cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, respectively. Dotted beadwork patterns and flowing lines reflect the deep connection between land, water, and communities on the ongoing journey of reconciliation.

On September 30th, we will be taking time to reflect on the meaning behind Truth and Reconciliation. We are educating ourselves about the history of the Residential School system in Canada. Created in response to the Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the day of recognition was established to honour survivors of the Residential School system and ensure the tragic history is publicly remembered.  

As family doctors, acknowledging the detrimental impacts of residential schools on Indigenous Peoples is vital for providing culturally inclusive care to patients. Our President Dr. Birinder Narang reflects: “Understanding the intergenerational effects of the Residential School system is important education for family doctors. When working with Indigenous patients, we have a responsibility to act with humility and listen with care.”  

BC Family Doctors continues to evolve our governance to become a more inclusive organization. Our leadership team is undergoing training at the Atleo Centre for Compassionate Leadership, an experience on which we will publicly reflect. We will continue to listen and educate ourselves on the experiences of Indigenous Peoples to ensure we advocate for these changes within our primary system. 

We invite members to join us in making time for ongoing reflection about our role in delivering culturally safe care and learn from the In Plain Sight Report Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care.